In November 2018 AVL increased the size and confidence of its JORC-compliant resource as a result of 19 RC holes for 1,863 metres and three diamond holes for 368.2 metres.

The updated total resource of 183.6 million tonnes at 0.76% vanadium pentoxide notably features a massive magnetite high-grade zone (HG10) of 96.7 million tonnes at 1% vanadium.

Algar said at the time: “The increased understanding and confidence further strengthens Gabanintha’s position as a world-class vanadium project in its size, grade and metallurgical recovery parameters.

The results of the PFS indicate a project with a well-defined resource base, robust economics and utilising an industry standard, low-risk method of beneficiation and refining to produce a vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) flake product.

Gabanintha’s maiden ore reserve of 18.24 million tonnes at 1.04% V2O5 comprises of a proved reserve of 9.82 million tonnes at 1.07% V2O5 and a probable reserve of 8.42 million tonnes at 1.01% V2O5.

Gabanintha ore reserve

AVL has envisaged an open pit mining and beneficiation operation producing about 900,000 tonnes per annum of 1.40% V2O5 magnetite concentrate at an average yield of 60%.

The planned V2O5 refinery at the Gabanintha site will have a production rate of about 22.5 million pounds of V2O5 per annum over an initial mine life of 17 years.

Plant layout

Importantly, AVL has estimated an ungeared post-tax net present value ranging between US$125 million and US$1.41 billion, depending on the pricing assumption, indicating a robust project.

Current V2O5 price is trading at US$22/pound with anticipated ongoing supply shortfall until at least 2025.

However, AVL has used a conservative long-term average V2O5 product pricing assumption of only US$8.67/pound for financial modelling.

Key financial outcomes (US$)

AVL managing director Vincent Algar said: “By completing this PFS on Gabanintha we have taken a major step towards bringing our world-class project into production.

“Announcing a maiden ore reserve is a key milestone and further embeds the project’s low-risk mineral resource and strong economic potential.

“The PFS includes detail that allows us to understand and design a long-life, low-cost vanadium pentoxide and cobalt concentrate production facility.

“The company also holds an extensive strike of inferred resource for further definition.

“We believe that the project will deliver a world-leading, life of mine mass recovery to concentrate of over 60%. The unique thickness of the Gabanintha high-grade zone adds to its potential.

“AVL shareholders can now have increased confidence in the value of the company, as we embark immediately onto a diamond drill program to provide feed for pilot scale flowsheet validation test work and other DFS (definitive feasibility study) work packages.

“The completed PFS will allow us to confidently engage with strategic partners in 2019, at a time when vanadium supplies are very much in demand.

“Vanadium’s future is bright, with its traditional markets transitioning to higher quality steels and new energy metal markets developing.”

15 Year V2O5 commodity price per pound – inflated to 2018 US$

The body of work completed in the PFS will now feed into the Gabanintha DFS.

Due to the level of detail of many study aspects undertaken in the PFS, several areas are now at an advanced stage and work in 2019 will focus on optimisation and further refinement.

]]>Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:52:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/211444/australian-vanadiums-pre-feasibility-study-confirms-robust-economics-for-gabanintha-deposit-211444.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/211282/australian-vanadium-has-gabanintha-pre-feasibility-study-results-imminent-211282.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) will release results of a pre-feasibility study on the Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia’s Mid-West within days along with a maiden ore reserve.

Accordingly, the company has been granted a trading halt by the ASX.

This will remain in place until the start of normal trading on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, or when an announcement is released to the market, whichever occurs earliest.

Within this is a massive magnetite high-grade zone of 96.7 million tonnes at 1.00%, which averages 14 metres in thickness.

Besides vanadium, the project also features titanium and iron, as well as cobalt, copper and nickel in sulphides.

READ: Australian Vanadium prepares to submit final Gabanintha vanadium PFS

The company published a ‘robust’ base case for its PFS in September 2018, saying the project had strong fundamentals that supported the detailed optimisation work it was undertaking for the detailed study.

The baseline PFS indicated the company had the potential to become a low-cost vanadium producer in the international marketplace.

Vanadium was trading for about US$29 a pound at the end of November, changing hands for US$29.10 a pound in China and US$28.75 a pound in Europe.

Increasing demand

The price is being pushed up by a predicted 10,000 tonne, or 30%, increase in demand for vanadium out of China due to regulatory change in the country where steelmakers were to better reinforce their steels with vanadium from November 1, 2018, to make the steels stronger.

Stricter standards in China

Corresponding stricter environmental standards also mean that Chinese manufacturers are barred from sourcing acid-leached vanadium from the usual go-to domestic source for vanadium in times of short supply.

These small producers use stone-coal processing and leach vanadium from stone coal using acid.

China’s use of tighter environmental standards amid greater demand means producers are looking farther afield, with their hunt having an upwards effect on prices.

The company’s shares last traded at 2.8 cents before the halt.

]]>Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:40:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/211282/australian-vanadium-has-gabanintha-pre-feasibility-study-results-imminent-211282.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/210923/australian-vanadium-prepares-to-submit-final-gabanintha-vanadium-pfs-210923.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) is finalising a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia this month ahead of producing a definitive feasibility study (DFS) next year with the help of Wood plc.

Last month the company updated the resource for the Mid West region project, reporting 183.6 million tonnes grading 0.76% vanadium pentoxide.

The resource is 50 kilometres from the town of Meekatharra along Meekatharra Road and includes a massive magnetite zone which features 96.7 million tonnes grading 1% vanadium.

Besides vanadium, the Gabanintha project also features titanium and iron, as well as cobalt, copper and nickel in sulphide minerals.

‘Robust’ baseline PFS underpins final study

Australian Vanadium published a ‘robust’ base case for its PFS for Gabanintha project in September 2018, saying the project had strong fundamentals that supported the detailed optimisation work it was undertaking for the detailed study.

The baseline PFS indicated the company had the potential to become a low-cost vanadium producer in the international marketplace.

Australian Vanadium managing director Vincent Algar told Proactive Investors this week the company remained on track to present the final PFS to its board this month.

Geologist Algar also confirmed the company was planning to produce a DFS for the project next year, with the same contractor it had been working on for the PFS, the Wood group.

The MD said Australian Vanadium expected to name which quarter it would deliver the DFS in after taking the final PFS to its board.

Australian Vanadium included a number of net present value figures (NPV8) in its preliminary study which were calculated at an 8% discount and modelled on an initial open-pit mine life of 17 years.

The highest NPV8 figure was up to US$2.37 billion and used a ceiling vanadium price of US$20 a pound, with a corresponding internal rate of return (IRR) of 69.8% and operating expenses (opex) of US$4.28 a pound or US$4.13 a pound when calculated as a vanadium equivalent.

Another base case for the PFS was based on a US$8/pound vanadium price and had an NPV8 of US$191 million at with a 14.5% IRR.

Like the US$20 a pound calculation, opex was US$4.28 a pound or US$4.13 a pound vanadium equivalent.

Regulatory change in China puts pressure on price

Vanadium is trading for about US$29 a pound, changing hands for US$29.10 a pound in China and US$28.75 a pound in Europe.

The price is being pushed up by a predicted 10,000 tonne, or 30%, increase in demand for vanadium out of China due to regulatory change in the country where steelmakers were to better reinforce their steels with vanadium from November 1, 2018, to make the steels stronger.

Corresponding stricter environmental standards in the Asian country also mean manufacturers are barred from sourcing acid-leached vanadium from the country’s usual go-to source for vanadium in times of short supply — small producers that use stone-coal processing, and leach vanadium from stone coal using acid.

China’s use of tighter environmental standards amid greater demand means producers are looking farther afield, with their hunt having an upwards effect on price.

‘Well viable’ target

Geologist-MD Algar told Proactive Investors the company’s operating costs for Gabanintha project were important to the team which was aiming to be ‘well viable’ at a US$8 a pound vanadium oxide price.

Algar, who is also a contributing member of the vanadium industry body Vanitec, said, “At the moment we’re sitting in a regime where the price is around US$30 — that’s an all-time high, so we don’t want to be living there.

“One of the scenarios we put forward in the base case was US$13 (a pound) for the first five years, and then US$8 (a pound) for the next five years ... till the end of the mine life thereafter. And that gave us an NPV base of about US$575 million dollars with an IRR of 33.6%.”

Like the three other base cases modelled, the scenario also assumed opex was US$4.28 a pound or US$4.13 a pound vanadium equivalent.

The base case life-of-mine (LoM) price estimate was US$13 a pound, meaning the base case NPV8 of US$1.1 billion had a 39.5% IRR.

Algar acknowledged some people preferred NPVs to be calculated with a 10% discount (NPV10s), saying NPV8 and NPV10 figures were likely to be presented in the final PFS.

He said Australian Vanadium believed opex cost was the most important part of the equation, as the bottom of the cost curve for vanadium production was about US$4 a pound, with many producers sitting in the US$4 to US$6 a pound range.

The bottom price for vanadium sales was about US$2.25 a pound, seen at the beginning of 2016, with the price gaining more than 10 times over since the start of 2017 when the price was about US$3.50 a pound.

With the structural market-changes to supply and demand, the future price of vanadium is unlikely to reach these lows again.

Comparison to peers

Vanadium is an in-demand critical mineral on the US Government’s Final List of Critical Minerals 2018, published in May 2018.

The weather-resistant alloy helps improve tensile strength of steel and alloys, and supports fuel efficiency in the automotive and aerospace industries with its high strength-to-weight ratio.

Vanadium also allows for large-scale energy storage when used in vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRFBs).

About 85% of the world’s production comes from magnetite deposits found in South Africa, Russia and China, with supply from the three countries trending down from 98% in June 2001.

About 91% of world demand for vanadium comes from the steel industry, but so-called energy industry disruptors are expected to push the figure down to 70% as the energy storage business takes off.

#vanadium made the list of US #criticalminerals — how many can WA supply? @westaustralian @BillJohnstonMLA #mining https://t.co/oy02BS6XQm

— Australian Vanadium (@AusVanadium) May 19, 2018
BIG PICTURE: The recent stellar growth from Bushveld Minerals may just be a harbinger of things to come

Australian Vanadium’s Gabanintha project has been compared to the large layered intrusion known as the Bushveld complex in South Africa.

The complex has been estimated to host more than half of the world’s vanadium, platinum, chromium and refractory minerals.

Australian Vanadium described its Gabanintha resource as a ‘Bushveld complex-sized area’.

The Gabanintha deposit has been outlined over more than 11 kilometres of drilled strike length, in area with good access to infrastructure.

The company acknowledges it will be compared to three key players in the vanadium business that sit at the bottom of the cost curve, producing vanadium pentoxide in the range of US$1 to US$4.50 a pound.

London-headquartered Evraz plc (LON:EVR) (FRA:EVZ) (OTCMKTS:EVRZF) is the cost king, able to produce on the lowest end of the cost curve.

The company has the Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation Ltd in South Africa and its Evraz Vanady-Tula vanadium pentoxide business in Russia.

Vanady-Tula is the largest producer in Europe.

The Evraz group’s Czech Republic business Evraz Nikom produces ferrovanadium from Vanady-Tula’s vanadium pentoxide to ship to steelmakers across the globe.

Parent company Bushveld’s subsidiary Bushveld Vanadium produces low-cost vanadium and is also focused on the additional, vertical market of VRFB technologies.

Subsidiary Bushveld Energy meanwhile has ambitions to be both a VRFB energy storage project developer and component manufacturer.

Largo has the Maracas Menchen vanadium mine in Brazil.

South African producers meanwhile can produce vanadium pentoxide at a cost of about US$4.50 a pound.

Other players in the mix are Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN) (JSE:GLN) (OTCMKTS:GLCNF) (OTCMKTS:GLNCY) and Australian-listed juniors such as October 2018 debutante QEM Ltd (ASX:QEM) which has the Julia Creek Oil-Shale and Vanadium Project and Tando Resources Ltd (ASX:TNO) with its SPD Vanadium Project.

Visited one of the worlds biggest #vanadium producers. Can now fully understand the scale $AVL is aiming for & why it requires such detailed preparation. Amazing insight into the production side. Can only say it was an awesome experience. pic.twitter.com/6f3w6oZpkd

Algar said, “Our objective is to de-risk (Gabanintha) to the point where it’s very investible, and it can then become the next vanadium project.

“We’re not going to forgo risk reduction for speed.

“Some people might assume that means I want to go slowly, (but) that’s not at all the case — I’m just saying we must do good work.”

]]>Mon, 10 Dec 2018 23:55:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/210923/australian-vanadium-prepares-to-submit-final-gabanintha-vanadium-pfs-210923.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/210074/australian-vanadium-boosts-vanadium-resource-derisking-project-further-210074.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has increased the size and confidence of its JORC-compliance resource at its Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

The update is a result of 19 reverse circulation (RC) holes for 1,863 metres and three diamond holes for 368.2 metres.

The updated total resource of 183.6 million tonnes at 0.76% vanadium pentoxide notably features a massive magnetite high-grade zone (HG10) of 96.7 million tonnes at 1.00% vanadium.

The updated estimate provides an improved basis for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) currently being undertaken by the company.

“The value of the recent drilling of just 19 drill holes along strike and the consequent low-cost addition of Indicated category vanadium resources, key base metal values and important geo-metallurgical parameters to the resource model, added significantly to the quality of the mine plan that will emerge from the PFS.

“The increased understanding and confidence further strengthens Gabanintha’s position as a world-class vanadium project in its size, grade and metallurgical recovery parameters.

Resource upgrade further derisks project

“This important revision to the Gabanintha resource further de-risks the foundations on which we can build an outstanding Australian project.

The FBI CRC aims to support the development of hubs and precincts of globally competitive battery industries while ensuring a secure supply of battery metals to meet global demand in the transition to new energy systems.

VSUN Energy was established to provide AVL vertical integration opportunities in vanadium supply and battery installation.

AVL managing director Vincent Algar said: “It’s great to see the change in focus in Western Australia to not repeat the dig and ship mentality of the iron ore boom.

“We have the opportunity to add real value and develop strong expertise in Australia and, in particular, Western Australia.

“The FBI CRC could help enable industry participants to work together to build a battery industry that will benefit all Australians.”

AVL’s expertise in the extraction and processing of vanadium will assist the centre to leverage Australia’s vast mineral resources.

Having produced vanadium electrolyte in Australia, AVL’s pilot plant resource will be of great use to the FBI CRC should its application be successful.

The FBI CRC is being driven by Curtin University, with help from partners such as Tianqi Lithium, the Government of Western Australia, BHP, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University.

AVL has completed a baseline pre-feasibility study for its Gabanintha Vanadium Project in WA, which estimates a net present value (NPV) range for the project that has an upper end of US$2.37 billion when assuming a US$20 per pound vanadium price.

Gabanintha has a vanadium resource of 175.5 million tonnes at 0.77% vanadium pentoxide, which includes a high-grade zone of 93.6 million tonnes at 1%.

A recently completed infill drilling program at the project confirmed a consistent 3 to 10-metre-thick zone grading over 1.2% vanadium in 10 of 11 holes.

]]>Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:52:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/209513/australian-vanadium-offers-vanadium-expertise-to-battery-industry-research-centre-209513.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/208074/australian-vanadium-confirms-broad-high-grade-vanadium-zone-at-gabanintha-208074.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has confirmed the thickness, grade and continuity of the vanadium-magnetite mineralisation with infill drilling at its Gabanintha Vanadium Project in WA.

A consistent high-grade zone of over 1.2% vanadium was identified along strike of the existing measured and indicated resources, supporting the ongoing mineral resource update.

The recently completed 1,089-metre drilling program consisted of reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling as well as geotechnical work, including 10 televiewer surveys over new and existing holes.

Results will be used in the project’s pre-feasibility study (PFS) which aims to define a low-risk, low-cost process for production of high-purity vanadium products.

Highlighted intersections include: 17 metres at 1.03% vanadium and 61.9% iron from 38 metres, including 7 metres at 1.29% vanadium from 41 metres; 17 metres at 1.14% vanadium and 66.5% iron from 81 metres, including 10 metres at 1.28% from 82 metres; and 12 metres at 1.12% vanadium and 68.5% iron from 47 metres, including 8 metres at 1.24% from 48 metres.

All drill holes in the program intersected the massive magnetite layer which is the basis of Gabanintha’s economic studies and currently supports a mineral resource estimate of 93 million tonnes at 1% vanadium.

The magnetite layer averages 14 metres in thickness and intersections in 10 of 11 holes graded over 1.2% vanadium.

Drilling in 2011 intersected high-grade zones – greater than 1.2% vanadium over 3 metres or more – in the same area in four of 11 holes.

READ: Australian Vanadium values Gabanintha at up to US$2.37 billion, shares rise

AVL managing director Vincent Algar said the program had delivered significant information to help finalise the PFS.

He said: “This includes vital geotechnical information as well as additional confirmation of our mineralisation’s tenor and geometry.

“It also demonstrates the benefit of having significant strike length under our control, enabling us to quickly add high-quality, low-risk resources for minimal outlay, to feed the planned operation.

“Further drilling of blocks to the south are planned as we steadily grow AVL’s Gabanintha project into an unassailable position as the world’s next vanadium producer.”

READ: Australian Vanadium completes PFS drilling for resource update

The company appointed geotechnical consultants Dempers & Seymour to manage the geotechnical requirements of the pit design being using in the PFS.

The drilling also extended the drilled strike at Gabanintha by 700 metres, enlarging the development area to 3 kilometres out of 11.5 kilometres available for resource extension.

Detailed analysis to maximise economic returns and reduce and capital operating costs will continue throughout the rest of the year, with favourable outcomes allowing the project to advance to a definitive feasibility study.

Metallurgical test work is continuing to further define ore characteristics and vanadium recoveries.

More updates on PFS progress expected

The PFS is divided into three phases which are:

• Phase I – develop a mining and production base case using current metallurgical test work results and proven processing technologies as a basis;
• Phase II – define, analyse and compare a series of options that can potentially lower overall project risk or improve the project financial metrics; and
• Phase III – complete the PFS engineering and estimating to deliver a quality study that demonstrates the potential strong economic returns likely over the life of the project.

AVL will continue to provide updates as the phases are progressed.

]]>Wed, 26 Sep 2018 11:37:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/205700/australian-vanadium-values-gabanintha-at-up-to-us237-billion-shares-rise-205700.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/205488/australian-vanadium-in-trading-halt-pending-gabanintha-pfs-base-case-news-205488.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) is in a trading halt pending an announcement regarding its Gabanintha Vanadium Project near Meekatharra in Western Australia’s Mid-West.

An announcement is expected about the base case for the project’s pre-feasibility study (PFS).

The ASX has granted the trading halt, which will remain in place until the start of normal trading on Wednesday, September 26, or when an announcement is released to the market, whichever occurs earliest.

AVL last traded at 5.4 cents on Friday, a day in which the share price ranged from 5.2 to 5.6 cents.

READ: Australian Vanadium completes PFS drilling for resource update

Earlier this month the company completed a 14-hole reverse circulation drilling program, which forms part of the PFS work with results to be used for a JORC resource update.

At the time, AVL managing director Vincent Algar said the initial base case scenario was the first step in a series of activities enabling the delivery of a realistic and achievable study to support future investment decisions.

AVL has also pegged a new 49.7 square kilometre tenement at the southern end of Gabanintha, which is prospective for deposit extensions as well as gold, copper and uranium.

Algar stated, “The addition of this strategic tenement provides AVL with potential to define additional mineral resources and consolidates accessibility to all of our deposits in the Gabanintha area.”

READ: Australian Vanadium signs LOI with German battery manufacturer for potential vanadium supply

Recently, AVL also signed a letter of intent with a German vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) manufacturer which could lead to the company supplying vanadium pentoxide and/or vanadium electrolyte.

SCHMID is keen to secure a material supply of vanadium for VRFB batteries and recognises that the Gabanintha project near Meekatharra in Western Australia as a potential source.

The drilling is part of the ongoing pre-feasibility study (PFS) and the results will be used to estimate a JORC resource update for the project.

The company has also pegged a new strategic tenement at the southern end of Gabanintha which is prospective for deposit extensions as well as gold, copper and uranium.

READ: Australian Vanadium signs LOI with German battery manufacturer for potential vanadium supply

AVL’s managing director Vincent Algar said: “The addition of this strategic tenement provides AVL with potential to define additional mineral resources and consolidates accessibility to all of our deposits in the Gabanintha area.”

AVL is continuing to advance a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gabanintha Vanadium Project with preparation of the initial base case scenario nearing completion.

It is the first step in a series of activities enabling the delivery of a realistic and achievable study, supporting future investment decisions.

Recently, AVL signed a letter of intent (LOI) with a German vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) manufacturer which could lead to the company supplying vanadium pentoxide and/or vanadium electrolyte.

SCHMID is keen to secure a material supply of vanadium for VRFB batteries and recognises AVL’s Gabanintha project near Meekatharra in Western Australia as a potential source.

]]>Mon, 10 Sep 2018 11:35:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/204475/australian-vanadium-completes-pfs-drilling-for-resource-update-204475.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/203652/australian-vanadium-signs-loi-with-german-battery-manufacturer-for-potential-vanadium-supply-203652.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with a German vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) manufacturer which could lead to the company supplying vanadium pentoxide and/or vanadium electrolyte.

SCHMID is keen to secure a material supply of vanadium for VRFB batteries and recognises AVL’s Gabanintha project near Meekatharra in Western Australia as a potential source.

The letter has been signed on a non-binding basis and is subject to commercial competitiveness.

AVL’s managing director Vincent Algar said, “We have built a relationship with SCHMID over the past three years and the letter of intent solidifies our plans with them moving forward.

“For a VRFB manufacturer it is crucial to secure an ongoing supply of vanadium and with our high-grade vanadium deposit moving steadily towards production, we look forward to working closely with SCHMID as a potential client.”

Two-way partnership

In parallel, AVL’s subsidiary, VSUN Energy, has signed an LOI to offer SCHMID’s EverFlow® large-scale and telecom VRFB to its potential clients.

Algar said, “Having the relationship as a two-way partnership with VSUN Energy promoting the EverFlow® systems provides a collaborative space for us to do business.”

The resource now includes an estimation of cobalt, nickel and copper as well as a distinct massive magnetite high-grade zone known as HG10.

The revised resource estimate provides an improved basis for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) being undertaken.

READ: Australian Vanadium in discussions for Gabanintha vanadium offtake and finance deal

AVL’s managing director Vincent Algar said: “This important revision to the Gabanintha resource further de-risks the foundations on which we can build an outstanding Australian project.

“We have developed a unique understanding of the deposit, and our very strong vanadium team will enable us to utilise this knowledge as we advance the project.

“Our timing in respect to supplying the rising vanadium market looks to be ideal.

“We will develop the metallurgical and economic aspects of the project in our PFS, looking to include the needs of potential steel industry offtake and that of the rapidly emerging Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Industry.”

Pre-feasibility studying ongoing

AVL aims to produce a high-quality PFS with a well-defined process flow sheet and is focused on de-risking the project to allow future investment.

The PFS will include a robust options study to assure that the most viable, lowest cost mining and processing operation is pursued.

Initial metallurgical test work and process circuit design work are well advanced.

Work is ongoing on the geo-metallurgical understanding of the mineralised domains to support processing circuit design, performance prediction and mine scheduling.
A detailed mining study including pit optimisation and a preliminary assessment of an initial mine schedule is well advanced.

Opportunity to produce base-metal rich sulphide concentrate

Metallurgical test work has identified the opportunity to produce a cobalt, nickel, copper-rich sulphide concentrate by flotation from the non-magnetic tailings stream.

Further work will be conducted to refine the resource opportunity, concentrate quality and economic benefit.

Revised resource estimate

The revised resource estimate includes a geologically distinct massive vanadium-bearing magnetite high-grade zone, HG10, that is the focus of economic studies.

The combined Measured, Indicated and Inferred resource estimate for the high-grade zone is 93.6 million tonnes at 1.00% vanadium pentoxide.

AVL sees high potential to convert Inferred Resources located along the 11 kilometres of strike length at Gabanintha to the Measured and Indicated categories with additional targeted drilling.

]]>Thu, 05 Jul 2018 10:58:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/200149/australian-vanadium-updates-vanadium-jorc-estimate-to-include-cobalt-nickel-and-copper-200149.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/199536/australian-vanadium-in-discussions-for-gabanintha-vanadium-offtake-and-finance-deal-199536.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) is in discussions with a private Chinese steel and alloy producer regarding project finance and offtake of vanadium oxides from the Gabanintha project in Western Australia.

The company has signed a non-binding MOU with Win-Win Development Group which could lead to the purchase of vanadium for steel strengthening.

This development resulted in AVL’s shares increasing almost 8% in early trade to 4.4 cents.

READ: Australian Vanadium's test work points to low-cost beneficiation for Gabanintha vanadium

Managing director Vincent Algar said, “The Win-Win team are fully in-tune with the needs of the vanadium alloy market in China.”

Win-Win building VCN plant

Win-Win is building a 5,000 tonnes per annum vanadium carbon nitride (VCN) production line which annually requires 7,000-8,000 tonnes of 98% vanadium pentoxide.

The first stage will require 2,000-3,000 tonnes annually and be operational in 2019 and the second stage is planned for 2020.

Win-Win has a shareholding in an operating production line that annually produces 2,400 tonnes of VCN products for existing steel companies.

Synergies with Gabanintha development

The timing of the Win-Win development and full production has strong synergies with the planned development of AVL’s Gabanintha Vanadium Project.

READ: Australian Vanadium adds another battery metal to the mix at Gabanintha Vanadium Project

Algar said: “Their development plans will set them up as a significant supplier of VCN to feed the rising demand for this feedstock as the new rebar standards are implemented.

“Win-Win has undertaken due diligence and identified AVL’s Gabanintha project as the one most likely to be able to provide the grade and quantity of product they require for the future.

“The addition of a substantial agreement with a steel and alloy producer creates a firm foundation with which Gabanintha can participate in the most established market for vanadium.

“We look forward to continuing discussions around the financing and development of the Gabanintha project.”

AVL visit to China

During a recent visit to China by AVL, the two companies finalised the wording of the MOU.

The trip to Chengdu included visits to the Win-Win offices and a site visit to the operating VCN plant at Win-Win’s sister company.

Win-Win’s management team with AVL at the Win-Win head office in Chengdu.

Initial contact with the group was undertaken by AVL’s China consultancy Mastermines, which has developed the relationship to this stage.

VCN often preferred

VCN is an alloy prepared by the reaction of vanadium oxides, graphite and nitrogen.

The reaction creates a VCN product that is sold to steelmaking plants for the manufacture of micro-alloy steels, specifically in the major consumer of vanadium - steel rebar.

In China, VCN is often preferred over FerroVanadium in steelmaking as it requires less vanadium to achieve the same strength characteristics but produces a finer steel product.

Gabanintha, which is near Meekatharra, hosts a mineral resource comprising 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium pentoxide.

The resource base and positive metallurgical test results provide strong support for the pre-feasibility study, which is underway.

This work will allow the company to optimise a sulphide recovery flowsheet, improve concentrate quality and determine an overall base metal recovery.

The company plans to engage with potential Australian and offshore buyers to discuss indicative terms for the sale of a sulphide concentrate.

All-time high cobalt prices and recovery parameters indicated by the work, add support for additional drilling to expand the vanadium resource and better define the sulphide by-product potential.

Potential to increase revenue

Sale of a by-product cobalt, nickel and copper sulphide concentrate has potential to increase revenue at Gabanintha.

Bryah Resources Ltd (ASX:BYH) holds the rights to nickel, copper and gold recovered from any Gabanintha production, however, AVL will benefit from this due to its 14% holding in Bryah.

]]>Tue, 22 May 2018 10:41:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/197409/australian-vanadium-adds-another-battery-metal-to-the-mix-at-gabanintha-vanadium-project-197409.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/195614/australian-vanadium-s-test-work-points-to-low-cost-beneficiation-for-gabanintha-vanadium-195614.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd’s (ASX:AVL) test work continues to deliver excellent results for vanadium from the Gabanintha project with which the company hopes to supply battery and steel markets.

The aim of the test work is to determine comminution parameters for Gabanintha’s high-grade vanadium material, as well as determining the potential recovery and quality of concentrate.

Ongoing tests are being carried out on 24 large diameter diamond core samples with a focus on geometallurgical characterisation, flowsheet development and further optimisation of concentrate yield and quality.

An electrolyte pilot plant used in the test work.

AVL’s comminution and beneficiation test program is being conducted on multiple diamond core samples.

Focus on concentrate recovery

The major focus is on the recovery of a vanadium concentrate from the high-grade zone of massive titaniferous magnetite.

This zone grades 1.06% vanadium pentoxide in the measured and indicated resource categories, averages over 20 metres in thickness, extends over 11 kilometres of strike and is open at depth.

Optimising beneficiation process

Algar said: "Our aim is to continue to develop our geometallurgical understanding of the Gabanintha mineralisation and optimise a beneficiation process to support a simple, low-cost flowsheet to take to our PFS.

“AVL now has a very strong technical team in place, with experience in vanadium production, VRFBs and in the production of electrolyte.”

Optimisation of concentrate quality has significant economic implications for the more cost-intensive downstream recovery processes for vanadium.

Primary PFS focus

The primary focus of the PFS is delivery of high specification products suitable for battery and steel markets.

Key aspects being completed in parallel with the remaining tests include environmental studies, native title negotiations, mining lease grant, process flowsheet development and preliminary mine modelling.

]]>Tue, 24 Apr 2018 11:39:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/195614/australian-vanadium-s-test-work-points-to-low-cost-beneficiation-for-gabanintha-vanadium-195614.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/195322/australian-vanadium-will-present-vanadium-story-for-first-time-during-benchmark-world-tour-195322.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) will join the Benchmark World Tour 2018 which will cover the vanadium energy storage supply chain for the first time.

The tour is run by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a price data collection and assessment company specialising in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.

Algar said: “We have been impressed with the way Benchmark Minerals has approached the lithium supply chain and they have gained a lot of respect for their approach to the market.

“I am delighted that vanadium will now take its place next to lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite as one of the key metals required for the renewable energy-focused future.

“The interest in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) is growing and with countries such as China building batteries like the Rongke Power 200MW/800MWh system, it won’t be long before the engineers involved in projects begin to understand VRFBs’ strengths.

“Indeed, our 100%-owned subsidiary VSUN Energy has recently been approached for quotes for a project where a VRFB was specified in the tender documents.”

AVL holds Gabanintha project

AVL holds 100% of the Gabanintha project near Meekatharra in Western Australia. Gabanintha hosts a mineral resource of 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium pentoxide.

This includes a measured resource of 10.2 million tonnes at 1.06% V2O5 and an indicated resource of 25.4 million tonnes at 0.62% V2O5 with the remainder in the inferred category.

]]>Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:06:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/195322/australian-vanadium-will-present-vanadium-story-for-first-time-during-benchmark-world-tour-195322.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/195003/australian-vanadium-continues-to-advance-china-focused-vanadium-strategy-195003.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd’s (ASX:AVL) consultant Mastermines is undertaking a second trip to China on behalf of the company to follow up on previous discussions and to target new prospects.

Mastermines’ objective is to identify prospective partners that offer the greatest potential and develop those relationships right through to a successful vanadium mine at Gabanintha in Western Australia.

The consultant is also participating in China’s largest vanadium conference to be held in Wuhan between April 18-20, 2018.

Western Power has been authorised by the Western Australian government to conduct a large demonstration of SPS.

SPS are hybrid systems which are not physically connected to the existing network.

The systems use a combination of renewable energy, batteries and back-up diesel generators, enabling generation, storage and reliable delivery of power.

An opportunity to showcase vanadium redox flow batteries

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) have particular strengths which are useful in SPS.

The ability to store large amounts of energy means that there is a reduced reliance on diesel, if sized correctly diesel can be removed altogether.

READ: Australian Vanadium adds another expert to lead vanadium pre-feasibility study

AVL’s managing director Vincent Algar said: “We have been in talks with Western Power since before we installed the battery in Busselton, members of the Western Power staff have visited the battery and been provided with analytical data to further their understanding.

“As a distributor rather than generator, it’s hard for Western Power to install renewable energy systems without regulatory change.

"It’s great to see WA Energy Minster, Hon. Ben Wyatt MLA supporting the renewable energy industry and allowing this type of project to proceed. It will provide valuable lessons to Western Power and the wider energy industry.

“Vanadium batteries aren’t a panacea, but they have their place in the energy market.

“With recently announced projects at Monash University and the University of Adelaide, we are starting to see this Australian invented technology being embraced in its home country.”

The project will involve up to 60 locations

The project will involve up to 60 locations in regional areas and builds on the successful trial of the technology on six properties in 2017.

With all of the identified customers engaged, Western Power is now running a tender procurement process for the demonstration project.

This provides opportunities for Western Australian companies like AVL to supply and install equipment and systems, with national and global interest expected.

]]>Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:04:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/194205/australian-vanadium-throws-hat-in-the-ring-for-large-demonstration-project-194205.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/193659/australian-vanadium-adds-another-expert-to-lead-vanadium-pre-feasibility-study-193659.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has appointed Todd Richardson to drive its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

Richardson is a vanadium production and technical management expert and will take on the role as Gabanintha project manager.

WATCH: Australian Vanadium buoyed by strengthening vanadium demand

His initial contract will be for three months and his role will be to oversee the PFS.

READ: Australian Vanadium receives a price query from the ASX as shares pop

Richardson has over 20 years of vanadium operations’ experience, in both Australia and the US.

He has worked for global vanadium companies in production and technical management roles.

Todd Richardson has worked at a nearby vanadium project

Notably, Richardson has spent time at the Windimurra mine and production site.

Windimurra is located in Western Australia, close to the company’s Gabanintha deposit and is a potential location for processing.

Richardson is the third key appointment for Gabanintha after Brian McNab from consultancy firm Wood and vanadium expert Daniel Harris who is now a technical director.

Primary contractor for the PFS appointed

AVL has outlined that it intends to appoint consultancy firm Wood as the primary contractor for the PFS.

Financial modelling is already underway and environmental baseline studies have been completed.

The focus will now shift to refining the mining and processing routes.

“We have made significant advances at Gabanintha this past year and the combination of Todd, Brian and Daniel’s skills will help us structure and deliver this vital next stage.

“We are working actively towards our goal of being the next vanadium mine to market, with our high-grade deposit proving itself to be economically attractive.”

]]>Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:34:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/193659/australian-vanadium-adds-another-expert-to-lead-vanadium-pre-feasibility-study-193659.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/193108/australian-vanadium-receives-a-price-query-from-the-asx-as-shares-pop-193108.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) yesterday received a price query from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on the back of rapid share price appreciation.

The price query letter from the ASX noted a 46% rise in price from the company’s low of $0.037 on Monday 12 March 2018 to its intra-day high of $0.054 yesterday Tuesday 13 March 2018.

AVL replies saying all information is in market

AVL responded to the query from the ASX saying it was not aware of any information concerning it that has not been released to the market that might cause such a move in the share price.

The company could only point to its recently announced metallurgical test work update, including commentary on further test work being undertaken.

Vincent Algar, managing director, said: “The definitive work to date is providing us with great confidence that Gabanintha can produce a significant quantity and quality of vanadium concentrate to feed a conventional vanadium roast-leach process.

“We will continue to optimise the recovery to achieve the simplest possible flowsheet to take to our PFS.

“With increasing market demand for vanadium, AVL will be accelerating its development activities to bring vanadium products to the market as soon as possible.”

Gabanintha, which is near Meekatharra, hosts a measured resource of 10.2 million tonnes at 1.06% vanadium pentoxide, an indicated resource of 25.4 million tonnes at 0.62% and an inferred resource of 144 million tonnes at 0.75%.

Within this is a distinct and globally significant, massive magnetite high-grade zone of 92.8 million tonnes at 0.96% vanadium pentoxide.

Neomet hydrometallurgical process tests returned encouraging first pass results for extraction of vanadium, iron and titanium from oxide samples.

A high-grade oxide sample showed extraction of 96% of vanadium, 87% of iron and 1% of titanium after a one hour hydrochloric acid (HCl) leach.

The titanium was upgraded from 8.8% to 23.4% in the residue.

READ: Australian Vanadium to benefit from rising vanadium prices

A low-grade sample showed extraction of 88% of vanadium, 97% of iron and 33% of titanium after a one hour HCl leach.

Evaluating processing routes

Australian Vanadium has engaged with Neomet and Sedgman to conduct the tests as it evaluates traditional and non-traditional processing routes.

Vincent Algar, managing director, said: “As AVL moves towards defining the exact nature of the Gabanintha operation through its definitive test work, processing circuit design and mine design, we will continue to have all options on the table.

“The exciting results from the initial Neomet leach test work allow us to better understand the potential recovery of other valuable metal credits.”

Additional tests will be considered

The company, together with Sedgman, will consider an additional test work program using the Neomet process following the completion of other ongoing test work.

Algar added: “The company’s previous test work has demonstrated excellent concentrate recovery and we anticipate the work underway will improve that further, as well as providing defined inputs into the next phase of work.

“We are very keen to get on with the pre-feasibility study in this buoyant vanadium market.”

Gabanintha resource

Gabanintha hosts a resource of 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium, making it one of the highest-grade vanadium deposits being advanced globally.

The resource includes a distinct, massive magnetite high-grade zone of 92.8 million tonnes at 0.96% vanadium.

]]>Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:34:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/189760/australian-vanadium-tests-boost-gabanintha-recovery-rates-189760.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/188921/australian-vanadium-gets-positive-feedback-from-vanadium-players-in-china-188921.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd’s (ASX:AVL) China-specialist consultant Mastermines has successfully concluded its first trip to China on behalf of the company.

AVL is in the process of advancing its Gabanintha Vanadium Project near Meekatharra in Western Australia towards a feasibility study and production.

READ: Australian Vanadium to benefit from rising vanadium prices

Vincent Algar, managing director, said: “We are very pleased with the feedback Mastermines has provided from their recent meetings across China.

“The urgency indicated from vanadium market participants in China gives us further confidence in the steps we are following at Gabanintha.

“We believe that rapidly progressing the path to production will meet the expectations of potential partners”

Communication opened up with leading vanadium players in China

Australian Vanadium has engaged Mastermines, a mining materials promotion and marketing consultancy with an experienced China-focused team.

The objective of the China trip was to meet with key participants in the Vanadium market in order to better understand what is required from potential customers and investors.

Significantly, the trip was successful in opening up communications with leading vanadium players within China and beyond.

Confidential meetings were held with leading battery manufacturers, state owned enterprises and those that have major influence in the market.

Australian Vanadium’s objective is to open the right doors and find partners in China for developing its world class resource.

One of the highest-grade undeveloped vanadium deposits globally

Gabanintha hosts a total resource of 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium, making it one of the highest-grade vanadium deposits being advanced globally.

The resource includes a distinct, massive magnetite high-grade zone of 92.8 million tonnes at 0.96% vanadium.

Gabanintha’s existing resource provides a solid basis for the current detailed metallurgical test work and to advance the project towards a detailed feasibility study.

]]>Mon, 18 Dec 2017 15:43:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/188921/australian-vanadium-gets-positive-feedback-from-vanadium-players-in-china-188921.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/188145/australian-vanadium-seeks-feedback-on-the-ground-in-china-188145.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) will be represented by a consultant in meetings in China during the first two weeks of December with new and existing contacts in the vanadium sector.

The company recently appointed Mastermines to assist the company with an Asia focused relationship and marketing strategy.

Meetings are aimed at building relationships for future supply chains and paving the way for more focused visits with the Australian Vanadium executive team early in 2018.

The visit includes meetings with the vanadium electrolyte supplier for the world’s largest battery currently under construction.

Visits are also planned with associations and researchers together with vanadium related enterprises and professionals within the battery and chemical sectors.

The company wants to produce a vanadium product marketable all over the world

Vincent Algar, managing director, said: “As we move towards project development at Gabanintha in Australia we are seeking to understand the potential customers and their product requirements.

“We aim to value-add in Australia and provide a desirable product for both the Chinese markets and other parts of the world, giving us the best chance of making a profitable mining venture for our shareholders.”

READ: Australian Vanadium secures tax refund for the Gabanintha project
]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2017 09:05:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/188145/australian-vanadium-seeks-feedback-on-the-ground-in-china-188145.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/187817/australian-vanadium-secures-tax-refund-for-the-gabanintha-project-187817.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has received $158,659 from the Federal Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive Scheme.

This refundable tax offset relates to costs incurred by the company during the 2015-2016 financial year.

Australian Vanadium’s research & development work was focused on new mining and processing techniques for its Gabanintha vanadium project in Western Australia.

READ: Australian Vanadium to benefit from rising vanadium prices

The company is well-positioned to benefit from recent increasing demand and prices for vanadium as it advances its flagship project.

The vanadium price has been rising consistently from its long-term low of US$2.58 per pound in December 2015 to reach prices of over US$10 per pound in October 2017.

During September, the company delivered a vanadium resource upgrade nearly doubling the overall resource at Gabanintha.

As a consequence of the tax refund, Australian Vanadium currently holds over $2.9 million in cash.

]]>Tue, 28 Nov 2017 08:25:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/187817/australian-vanadium-secures-tax-refund-for-the-gabanintha-project-187817.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/187736/australian-vanadium-eyes-commercial-feldspar-opportunity-in-south-africa-187736.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has received promising tantalum, lithium and beryllium results from drilling at the Blesberg Project located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

The company’s pegmatite intersections from 38 holes contains average of >50% feldspar.

Importantly, Australian Vanadium has identified an opportunity for niche, high-value feldspar product with accessory mineral credits.

Drilling confirms extension of pegmatite beyond historical mine

The company’s objective was to assess the value of the lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites at Blesberg, including the volume of ceramic grade feldspar, spodumene, beryl and tantalite.

The drilling results have confirmed the extension of the pegmatite beyond the historical mine.

The company is now aiming to proceed to calculate and report a resource estimate.

Commercial feldspar opportunity

The main products produced from the historical mining at Blesberg were feldspar, beryl, bismuth, tantalite, columbite, spodumene and mica.

Historical feldspar production from the mine was reported to be of very high quality, with the feldspar being pure white and unstained by iron oxide.

Its coarse grain size and low iron content are an attractive feed for glass making and other ceramic uses.

One of feldspar’s key new uses is in the production of solar glass used in solar cells.

The extension of the Blesberg pegmatite under shallow cover is considered significant, making it potentially amenable to low cost open-cut mining which will be further evaluated by the company.

Metallurgical recovery tests to follow

Australian Vanadium is currently focusing on the opportunity presented by the high quality feldspar mineralisation including the by-product extraction of lithium, beryllium and tantalum minerals.

Samples from the drilling and existing excavation are being collected to complete first-pass, low-cost metallurgical recovery tests.

Confirming the recovery of a significant portion of the high quality feldspar is central to the future of the project.

READ: Australian Vanadium to benefit from rising vanadium prices
]]>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:41:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/187736/australian-vanadium-eyes-commercial-feldspar-opportunity-in-south-africa-187736.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/187277/australian-vanadium-to-benefit-from-rising-vanadium-prices-187277.html
Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) is well-positioned to benefit from recent increasing demand and prices for vanadium as it advances its flagship Gabanintha vanadium project in Western Australia.

The vanadium price has been rising consistently from its long-term low of US$2.58 per pound in December 2015 to reach prices of over US$10 per pound in October 2017.

Vanadium supply has been developing a structural deficit over a number of years, stemming from a combination of low prices, loss of production in South Africa and erosion of existing stockpiles.

This has resulted in the price rises since 2015 and as new, low-cost capacity is not easy or fast to bring to market, AVL believes the vanadium market will be strong for several years to come.

This long term view on bullish pricing and demand in the dominant steel sector, coupled with the growing markets for vanadium in energy storage, support the ongoing evaluation of Gabanintha.

China marketing roadshow planned for November

AVL recently appointed Mastermines as a mining materials promotion and marketing consultancy with an experienced China-focused team.

Mastermines has aggressively commenced activity in China, providing materials and contact information for AVL at the recent ferro alloy summit held in Zejiang, China.

Furthermore, Mastermines will conduct an introductory roadshow on behalf of AVL during November 2017.

It will visit three cities and hold introductory meeting with companies including electrolyte producers, research institutes, battery manufacturers and steel producers.

Metallurgical test work commenced

Bureau Veritas Laboratories was recently appointed to conduct detailed metallurgical test work under the supervision of Wood Group consultants.

The detailed program aims to determine the nature of the mineralised domains present in the resource at Gabanintha so a flowsheet can be designed.

The detailed test work has commenced, with analysis and reporting expected in January 2018.

Once the preferred option for a flowsheet has been identified, AVL will commence a mining study.

Financial modelling also underway

Concurrent with the metallurgical test work program, the technical team at AVL is collating and preparing preliminary economic data.

These preliminary models can then be refined with data flowing from the metallurgical work and subsequent flowsheet analysis.

On the basis of previous work, Gabanintha presents a strong case for processing with an indicative high mass yield to concentrate and high concentrate quality.

Mastermines will provide AVL with an active approach towards Chinese investment in the future, as the company seeks to develop interest in Gabanintha and markets for its potential products, as a steel additive and for an ever-widening range of energy storage related applications.

Vincent Algar, managing director, commented:

"Making inroads into China and Asia can be costly and time consuming, with Mastermines assisting we will be able to extend our current campaigns to the fastest growing region on the planet."

READ NOW: Australian Vanadium moves into detailed metallurgical testing at Gabanintha
]]>Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:49:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/185977/australian-vanadium-appoints-china-specialist-to-build-asia-focused-relationships-185977.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/185599/australian-vanadium-unlocks-value-from-the-listing-of-bryah-resources-185599.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has now finalised the sale of its precious and base metals rights on the Gabanintha Project, located in Western Australia.

The sale was to Bryah Resources Ltd (ASX:BYH), which is listing on the ASX tomorrow.

Consideration for the tenements and mineral rights was 5 million Bryah shares and a 0.75% net smelter return royalty upon commencement of production.

Australian Vanadium also subscribed for 2.5 million shares in the IPO of Bryah, bring its total position to 7.5 million shares for a 13.4% stake.

Vincent Algar, managing director for Australian Vanadium, commented:

"Having two companies working on the same project area allows for the potential to share infrastructure costs, building the financial case for our vanadium project at Gabanintha.

"We congratulate the Bryah team on their successful listing and look forward to watching Bryah’s progress over the coming months."

]]>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 10:21:00 +1100https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/185599/australian-vanadium-unlocks-value-from-the-listing-of-bryah-resources-185599.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/185008/australian-vanadium-moves-into-detailed-metallurgical-testing-at-gabanintha-185008.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has engaged AMEC Foster Wheeler as metallurgical consultants as the company seeks to advance its Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

The company recently delivered an updated resource of 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium at Gabanintha, which includes a measured and indicated resource of 35.5 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium.

The updated Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource is 179.6 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium.

This includes a Measured and Indicated Resource of 35.5 million tonnes at 0.75% vanadium.

Vincent Algar, managing director, said that the resource upgrade further strengthened Gabanintha’s position as a world-class vanadium project in the size and grade of the resource.

"This significant revision of the detailed geology and extent of Gabanintha undertaken by our team and consultants gives us the firm foundations on which to move another step closer towards building an outstanding Australian project.

"We have the tonnage, the high grade and the close proximity to infrastructure.

"In addition, our timing in respect to supplying the rising vanadium market looks to be ideal.

"We will now look to confirm the metallurgical and economic aspects of the project while also developing our understanding and inclusion of vanadium electrolyte production capacity and increased vanadium flow battery sales."

The base model VRB system being considered is a 5kW/15kWh unit, which supplies 5kW of power with 15kWh of energy storage, providing 3 hours at a constant load of 5kW.

In typical Australian residential environments, this system will provide 4-8 hours of energy.

Other models available include 5kW/25kWh, 5kW-30kWh and 5kW-45kWh systems for small scale commercial and telecoms operations.

The company can offer products from GILDEMEISTER, along with other manufacturers.

VSUN Energy reports findings

VSUN Energy has reported to the company its findings relating to the strategic analysis of the residential storage market and VSUN Energy’s potential within it.

The analysis reviewed competitors in the residential energy storage marketplace and found that the VRB has significant points of difference from other forms of residential energy storage such as lead-acid and lithium-ion systems, for example;

- Being more suitable to provide true load shifting by having more hours of storage available;
- Allowing deeper and more frequent cycling;
- Exhibiting a naturally longer lifetime with no performance degradation; and
- Being a safer, non-flammable, non-explosive solution..

Importance of vertical integration

The evolution of the vanadium flow battery creates demand for Australian Vanadium's resource at Gabanintha, and as the battery demand grows, so will the importance of this resource, and potential funding development options for the project to get material to market.

The options will be exercisable at A$0.02 each on or before 31 December 2018.

The company is focused on the delivery of key milestones at its flagship Gabanintha Vanadium deposit in Western Australia.

Funds raised will assist AVL in advancing the project towards feasibility and approval.

With rising demand for vanadium in steel and energy storage applications, AVL is well placed to advance off-take discussions with key market participants.

The placement to sophisticated and professional investors will be completed in two tranches, with 50 mln shares and 25 mln options being issued under the company’s available placement capacity and the balance of 25 mln options subject to shareholder approval.

]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2017 12:18:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/181528/australian-vanadium-ltd-finalises-placement-to-sophisticated-investors-181528.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/181446/australian-vanadium-bolsters-cash-position-181446.html
Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) has increased its cash position by $750,000 after it today issued 50 million shares priced at $0.015.

The company will apply the funds to advancing its existing projects and for general working capital.

AVL seeks to offer investors exposure to all aspects of the vanadium value chain.

The exposure starts with the raw materials through the company’s 100%-owned Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

Gabanintha is currently one of the highest-grade vanadium projects being advanced globally.

Moving along the value chain, AVL has developed a local production capacity for high-purity vanadium electrolyte, which forms a key component of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRB).

As part of its broader energy metals focus, AVL has also commenced a staged acquisition of a controlling 50.03% interest in the Blesberg Feldspar-Lithium-Tantalum Project in South Africa.

Recently acquired vanadium deposit

Last week, AVL was granted an exploration licence over the historical Coates vanadium deposit located 35 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia.

Exploration at Coates was undertaken in the 1970s after its discovery in the early 1960s and previous metallurgical test work produced favourable results.

Historical mine planning was also completed although not undertaken.

The geology of the Coates deposit is unique and shows that vanadiferous magnetite is developed from the weathering profile of an underlying gabbro in a laterite outcrop on a ridge.

Due to its close proximity to Perth, a portion of the exploration licence area is covered by nature reserve or semi-rural development; however Vacant Crown Land covers the eastern portion of the original Coates vanadium deposit.

]]>Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:32:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/181446/australian-vanadium-bolsters-cash-position-181446.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/181016/australian-vanadium-picks-up-historical-vanadium-deposit-181016.html
Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) has been granted an exploration licence over the historical Coates vanadium deposit located 35 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia.

Exploration at Coates was undertaken in the 1970s after its discovery in the early 1960s and previous metallurgical test work produced favourable results.

Historical mine planning was also completed although not undertaken.

Vincent Algar, managing director, commented: “It was a nice surprise to find this historical vanadium deposit in Western Australia.

“The deposit, although small, looks to be reasonably accessible and is very close to Perth city. We will of course, need to undertake further exploration, as the data on the site is quite dated.”

A unique vanadium deposit

The geology of the Coates deposit is unique and shows that vanadiferous magnetite is developed from the weathering profile of an underlying gabbro in a laterite outcrop on a ridge.

The Coates vanadium deposit occurs in magnetite lenses at the core of the layered Coates Gabbro, which is 1 kilometre long and 600 metres wide.

Due to its close proximity to Perth, a portion of the exploration licence area is covered by nature reserve or semi-rural development; however Vacant Crown Land covers the eastern portion of the original Coates vanadium deposit.

A total of 40 tonnes of ore was used for these tests with the bulk ore assaying 0.54% vanadium pentoxide, 4.75% titanium oxide, 25% iron and 29% silicon dioxide.

]]>Tue, 18 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +1000https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/181016/australian-vanadium-picks-up-historical-vanadium-deposit-181016.htmlhttps://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/180336/australian-vanadium-ltd-assays-reveal-feldspar-opportunity-180336.html
Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has received its first set of assay results from its resource drilling program at the Blesberg Project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

The company has completed a 41 hole, 3,128-metre reverse circulation drilling program designed to calculate a JORC resource at the Blesberg Lithium-Tantalum-Feldspar Project.

Assay results for the first 13 holes have been received with highlights featuring 8 metres at 1532 ppm tantalum.

Drilling has extended the new pegmatite discovery to over 1 kilometre in length with pegmatite intersected in all holes and thickening along strike.

High-quality commercial feldspar was evidenced in all completed holes with intersections containing 50% average feldspar content.

Blesberg Project

The Blesberg Project is located 80 kilometres north of Springbok in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

It lies at the western end of the Northern Cape Pegmatite Belt.

The deposit is one of the largest known economically mineralised and exploited pegmatite deposits in the pegmatite belt.

AVL’s objective is to establish a production facility at Blesberg that maximises the value of the pegmatites.

This will include high volume ceramic-grade feldspar and quantities of high value by-product spodumene, beryl and tantalite.

The project is serviced by a major sealed road to the east within 6 kilometres of the project area along an unsealed government road.

Analysis

Drilling of trenched pegmatite exposure has increased the known strike length of the Main Noumas 1 zone to1 kilometre in length with significant widths of pegmatite also intersected.

AVL is focusing on the high-quality and high-volume opportunity presented by the feldspar mineralisation and will include by-product extraction of lithium, beryl and tantalum minerals in further analysis and test work.